Automobile spring tire



May 15, 1923.

J. R. TUCKER ET AL AUTOMOBILE SPRING TIRE Filed April 22, 1920 Patented15, 1923.

i Star JAMES B. TUCKER-AND EUGENE M. AYERS, GE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMOBILE srn'rns TIRE.

Application filed April 22, 1920. Serial No. 375,813.

I be a full, clear, and exact description 01" the invention, such aswill enable others Skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to an improved resili'ent wheel construction andone object of the invention is to provide improved resilient means foryieldably retaining the tire carrying rim out of engagement with A thewheel ielloe and to further so construct this" improved wheel that thetire carrying rim ma have suiiicient movement to permit the springs totake up the shocksreceived in going over rough places in a road.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the improvedresilient rim spacing elements that they may be mounted in socketsformed in the felloe and to so mount them that they may be drawninwardly towards the felloe to an inoperative position when it isdesired to remove the tire carrying rim for any purpose desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type ofspring-carrying cup into which the stem of the rim-engaging plateextends with the spring positioned in the cup about the stem.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this device that itwill consist of a comparatively few number of parts, all of which willbe simple in construction and very strong and durable.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinFigure 1 is a view showing the improved wheel in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a view showing one of the rim spacing elements in verticalsection.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 83 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a slightly modifiedconstruction.

In this construction the wheel is provided with the usual hub 10, andtelloe 11 positioned about the hub with the spokes 12 extending from thehub to the felloe. This felloe is provided at points positionedintermediate the spokes with socke s 13 having reduced inner endslZBthrough which the reduced threaded end portions 1.4 of the stems 15 ofthe run saddles 16 will pass.

These saddles engage the rim 17 upon w iich the tire 18 its and arecurved longitudinally and transversely, So that they may have properengagement with the rim. In each of the soclretslS there is provided acup 19 which may have its inner end portion iiiwardly thickened toprovide an abutment head 20, as shown in Figure 2, or may have its innerend portion provided with an inwardly extending flange or head 21 fromwhich extends a neck 22 passing through the reduced inner 'end portion13 of the socket 13, as shown in Figure 1-. A plate 23 is provided atthe outer end of the socket or cup 19 and fits against and is securedtothe :telloe 11 so that the cup will be securely held in place. Itsaddles held in firm engagement with the rim but permit these saddles tobe moved out of engagement with the rim when desiredand also permit therim to have acertain amount ot movement independent of the saddles. Inorder to accomplish this object there has been provided in each of thecups 19 a spring 24 which is coiled about the stem and has its inner endengaging the head at the inner end of the cup and its outer end engagingthe shoulder 25 at the outer end of the stem. It will thus be seen thatthe springs will serve to yieldably hold the saddles in firm engagementwith the tire carrying rim but permit the saddles to be moved out ofengagement with the rim when desired. A nut 26 is screwed upon thethreaded end portion of each of these stems and serves as means fordrawing the stems inwardly to move the saddles inwardly against theaction of the springs when the nuts are turned upon the stems andbrought into engagement with the rim so that the rim 17 may be removedfrom the saddles. Reinforcing strips 27 are provided upon the innerperiphery of the felloe for engage-merit by the nuts 26 and tostrengthen the felloe and as additional means for strengthening thefelloe there have been provided bands 28 secured to the side faces ofthe felloe. It should be noted that the fasteners for the bands 27 maypass entirely through the felloe and serve as means "for holding theplates 23 in engagement with the felloe.

is desired to have the rim engaging When this wheel is in use it isassembled as shown and the rim engaging saddles will hold the tirecarrying rim in spaced relation to the felloe. As the wheel revolves inpassing over a road the springs will be compressed and will take up anyshocks received in passing over rough places in the road. In view of thefact that the tire carrying rim is not rigidly connected with thesaddles, the rim may have slipping movement with respect to the saddlesat the sides of the wheel when the springs at the lower portion of thewheel are compressed. When these lower springs are compressed to take upjars received the upper springs will tend to expand and therefore thesaddles will at all times be held in proper engagement with q the rimand the rim prevented from slipping off of the saddles. These saddleswill have very firm engagement with the rim and therefore, although therim may have sufficient movement to permit the springs to I operateproperly, it may not have independent rotary movement about the felloewhich would permit the felloe to slip within the rim and prevent properturning of the wheel. When it is desired to remove the rim for thepurpose of repairing the rim or to the felloe or spacing element it issimply necessary to tighten the nuts 26 and the saddles will be drawninwardly towards the felloe against the action of the springs 24.

a This will release the rim and permit of its bodily removal from thefelloe. After the necessary repair has been made the rim will be putback in place and the nut loosened thus permitting the springs to expandand return the saddles into tight engagement with the rim. An improvedwheel construction has thus been provided which is very efficient inoperation and at the same time simple in construction and so constructedthat it will be strong and durable and not liable to readily break orget out of order.

It will be noted, upon reference to Figure 3, that the stem 15 is formedwith a bevel shoulder 15, which is adapted to seat against head which isarcuate longitudinally and transversely and provided with a shouldersurrounding the bolt at its junction with the head, and a coil springencircling the bolt, within the socket, and bearing against saidshoulder and the bottom of the socket.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES R. TUCKER. EUGENE M. AYERS.

Witnesses:

Mrs. KATHARINE KIRBY. J. ALoYs. KIRBY.

